Washington Post: “A Republican senator suggested in a private conversation Saturday, without evidence, that the FBI knew more about the planning before the Jan. 6 Capitol riot than it has revealed so far, according to a video obtained by The Washington Post. The comments from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), made after a political event in Wauwatosa, WI reflect the spread of an unfounded claim that has traveled from far-right commentators to the highest levels of the GOP. ‘I don’t say this publicly, but are you watching what’s happening in Michigan?’ Johnson said while discussing the Capitol attack with some of the event’s attendees. ‘So you think the FBI had fully infiltrated the militias in Michigan, but they don’t know squat about what was happening on January 6th or what was happening with these groups? I’d say there is way more to the story.’ Johnson’s Michigan comment appears to be a reference to the alleged kidnapping plot targeting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) that was disclosed by state and federal authorities in October.”

“No credible evidence has emerged that the FBI had detailed foreknowledge of a violent assault on the Capitol or that its agents or operatives played a role in fomenting it. No specific claim of FBI involvement has surfaced in court filings made in the hundreds of cases filed against alleged Capitol assailants. But the allegations have persisted in recent weeks as Republican supporters of former president Donald Trump, who falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen and encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol as Congress counted electoral votes on Jan. 6, have consistently sought to finger other culprits for the breach of the Capitol.”

For those of you keeping score at home, this is now the fourth different Capitol riot alt-theory Johnson has tried to propagate. On February 7th he first tried the “Pelosi totally did it” excuse, then on February 23rd it was Antifa, then in March it was “the rioters ‘love this country, truly respect law enforcement’“. In conclusion, fuck Ron Johnson. There really aren’t a lot of Republicans in Congress who deserve to get brutalized by a herd of male elk more than he does. Ron’s special like that.